Pressure containers and improvements in safety constructions therefor



Sept. 6, 1960 T. GREENE 2,951,614

PRESSURECONTA'INBRS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY CONSTRUCTIONS THEREFOR Filed March 30, 1959 INVENTOR. THEODORE GREENE ATTORNEY.

PRESSURE CONTAINERS AND INIPROVEMENTS 1N SAFETY CONSTRUCTIONS THEREFOR Theodore Greene, 1904 Gardenia Ave., North Merrick, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 802,859

6 Claims. (Cl. 220-89) This invention relates to low pressure fluid dispensing containers and in particular to improvements that will make them safe and harmless.

Low pressure containers are commonly used for dispensing substances of various types. Such containers generally include a low pressure fluid propellant either of the liquid or gaseous type. To properly conserve the propellant it must be completely enclosed in suitably usable container to prevent its loss until desired for use. However, propellants presently known and used create a dangerous hazard when they are so enclosed. During the shipment and storage, the containers are subjected to varying temperatures. The propellants, being variable in pressure, respond to the temperatures to which the container is subjected and it is not unusual that the same build-up pressure to such a great extent that the construction of the container is inadequate in strength to withstand the increased pressure of the propellant fluid. When this occurs, the fluid will expand so greatly as to explode the walls of the container, creating a great hazard to nearby persons or objects. It is for this reason that containers of the present type cannot be sent through the mails, or in many localities their use is severely restricted.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a, container for use with low pressure fluid type propellants that is safe and harmless and will not explode when the pressure of the fluid exceeds the strength of the container.

It is an object ofthis invention to enable the release of pressure from within the container when the same reaches a predetermined amount thereby eliminating the danger or hazard of explosion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a space into which the released fluid pressure may expand and expend itself without danger to nearby persons or objects.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container having a device that will atford fluid communication of the fluid with the expansion space when the fluid reaches a predetermined pressure. Accordingly, novel features of the invention reside in details of construction ofa rupture device, enabling its facile installation in the container, and insuring its reliable operation in a selected and predetermined manner upon the fluid attaining a predetermined pressure in the container.

Other features and objects of the invention reside in the simplicity of the details of construction of the container enabling the exhaust communication of the fluid described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a container constructed in accordance with the teaching of the invention and with a portion thereof removed,

Patented Sept. 6, 1960 Fig. 2 is a view of Fig. 1 with the rupture device broken,

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an expanded section of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention with a portion thereof removed,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the container of Fig. 5 with the rupture device broken,

Fig. 7 is a section of Fig. 5 taken along lines 77, and

Fig. 8 is an expanded section of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, the container there shown is generally identified by the numeral 10. Container 10 may be formed of a light gauge metal and may take any convenient shape. The present embodiment shows the same shaped in the form of a commonly known Aerosol bomb having an upper closure wall 12 in which there is mounted a dispensing structure 14 of any Well known construction. The dispensing structure 14 forms no part of the instant invention and therefore its details are not illustrated.

Container 10 comprises an elongate body structure that includes a first upper body member generally identified as 16, and a lower second body member generally identified by the numeral 18. The body structure includes a chamber 20 formed in one part thereof; namely, the upper body member 16 in which a liquid or gaseous type fluid (not shown) is contained. In low pressure containers of the present type, the substance to be dispensed from the chamber 20 is generally propelled there from by the propellant fluid that normally has a low pressure, but which is variable in pressure in accordance with the temperatures to which it is subjected. Accordingly, -it is necessary that the chamber 20 be completely enclosed, and except for the dispensing structure 14-, the same is fluid-tightly sealed at all times. Hence, the substance and the propellant fluid used to dispense the same from chamber 20 normally are without access or contact with the surrounding atmosphere.

The upper body member 16 comprises a tubular side wall 22 that is fluid-tightly sealed and closed at its upper end by the closure wall 12. A bottom closure wall 24 encloses the lower or bottom end of the upper body member 16 by engaging about the peripheral, marginal lower end thereof, as at 26. The bottom closure wall 24 is positioned between the chamber 20 and the lower body member 18 to divide and separate the same from each other and defines a wall of the chamber 20.

The lower or second body member 18 is secured in coextensive longitudinal relationship with the tubular side wall 22. This securement is alforded by a substantially channel-shaped upper marginal peripheral portion 28 secured conformingly about the rim 26. The lower marginal edge'30 of the body member 18 is adapted to seat upon any convenient surface. When so seated, an expansion space is formed or defined between the surface upon which it seats, the oppositely disposed closure. wall 24, and its peripheral tubular wall. This expansion space is identified by the numeral 32. The lower resting edge 30 of body 18 is provided with a plurality of removed or cut-away portions that serve as vents 34 through which fluid in the space 32 may pass to the surrounding atmosphere.

Under normal conditions the propellant fluid and substance contained in chamber 20 are separated from the expansion space 32 by the bottom imperforate closure wall 24. However, because there is always a danger of explosion when the propellant fluid in the chamber 20 expands and attains a pressure that is in excess of the ate the danger of explosion. This means is in the form of a rupturable device, generally identified by the numeral 36.

The, rupturable device 36 is secured and forms an integral and unitary part of the bottom closure wall 24. The wall 24 has an opening defined by a further wall 38. The openingwall 38 is bent slightly radially outward and back over itself as at 46 to provide a peripheral seating surface 42. The rupture device 36 is adapted to be accommodated within the opening defined by the wall 38 and to rest upon the peripherally narrower seat 42. Rupture device 36 includes a plate member. 44 that has a metering orifice 46 defined therein and a peripheral end 48 that is turned upward to fluid-tightly and conformingly secure a radially inwardly peripheral end 50 of a'substantial-ly dome-shaped rupturable plate member 52 therewithin.

The dome-shaped plate member 52 has a selected area 54 (indicated by the dot-dash lines) of predetermined strength adapted to break or rupture when the pressure of the fluid Within the chamber 20 reaches a predetermined amount, thus insuring against explosive tearing of the walls of the body member 16. The plate members 44 and 52 are spaced from each other as shown in the drawings to define a pressure chamber 56 that is in constant fluid communication with the chamber 28 through the metering orifice 46.

The upper edge of Wall 38 is bent radially inward at 58 conformingly about the marginal peripheral edge 48 of the orifice plate member 44 after the whole rupture device 36 is securely seated at 42. The combination of conforming peripheral walls 42, 48, 50 and 58 insure a fluid-tight construction against the leakage of fluid or substance from the chamber 20.

Rupture device 36, including the surface area 54, is adapted to permit the exhaust and release of dangerously high pressure fluid from the chamber 20 by providing a communication between the chamber and theexpansion space 32. The exhaust communication is afforded by the metering orifice 46 and the pressure chamber 56. Thus, the surface area '54 of the rupture plate 52 is in constant communication with the pressure fluid in the chamber 20.

When the propellant fluid in the chamber 20 attains or reaches a predetermined pressure, the same is applied to the surface area '54 with which it is in constant communication to break the surface area in the manner shown in Figs. 2. and 4. A fluid exhaust passageway and a communication is then immediately opened directly between the pressure chamber 56 and the expansion space 32, and between the expansion 32 and the chamber 20, to permit the passage of the fluid under pressure from the chamber 20 into the space 32.

The rushing movement of pressure fluid from the chamber 20 into the expansion space 32 permits the same to move in all directions of the space at once. When in the space, the fluid immediately expands and expends its fury and pressure harmlessly therein. A continuous flow of high pressure fluid into the space 32 from chamber 20 is alforded by venting the fluid outwardly from the space to the surrounding atmosphere through the vents 34.

By permitting the pressure fluid to expand into the space 32, its force is relieved from about all the interior walls of the chamber 20 of body 16 including wail 12 and structure 14. The movement of the fluid from the chamber 20 into the expansion space 32 is limitedpand predeterrninately metered by the orifice 46 which provides for the communication, but insures against a too great and forceful movement of the fluid from the chamber 20 into the space 32. The size of the metering orifice 46 thus assures that the space 32 will be able to vent the fluid to the atmosphere through the vent openings 34 in sufiicient volume to enable the space 32 to accommodate additional quantities of the pressure fluid as the same exhausts thereinto from the chamber 20.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive is substantially the same as that previously described with respect to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and generally identified by the numeral lit. To distinguish therefrom, the present embodiment is generally identified by the numeral 110. Inasmuch as the same has like details of construction as embodiment 10 previously described, the same details of each are similarly numbered except that the numerals of the present embodiment 110 are in the series.

The container comprises a tubular-shaped body construction which includes upper and lower coextensive body members 116 and 118 respectively. The light metallic wall 122 is closed at its upper end by a wall 112 that includes a dispensing structure 114 of any suitable design. A chamber houses or is adapted to contain a lower pressure fluid (not shown) in one part of the body member, namely, the upper body 116. The lower body member 118, coextensively secured to the lower portion of the upper body member :116, defines an enclosed expansion space identified by the numeral 132.

Chamber 120 of the upper body member 116, and the expansion space 132 of the lower body member 118, are separated and divided from each other by an imperferate closure wall 124. The closure wall 124 hasits outer peripheral edge engaged about the lowermost edge of the tubular wall 122 to form a slight radially extended peripheral rim 126.

The upper edge of the body member 118 is fashioned about the rim 126 at 128 in the shape of a channel that is radially spaced therefrom. The radial space between the channel-shaped formation 128 and the rim 126 results in a plurality of peripherally disposed vents that are interrupted by a plurality of indentations or notches 134. The indentations 134 extend radially inward beneath the lower edge of the rim 126 thereby cooperating with the upper radially inturned edge of the formation 128 to prevent the relative displacement and disengagement of the body member 118 from the rim 126 of the upper body member 116.

A convex closure wall 130 is secured about the lower edge of the body member 118 to form the bottom confines of space 132. The cooperation of the tubular side wall of the member 118, the closure wall 130, and the divider wall 124 delineates the expansion space 132 that is vented to the surrounding atmosphere by the peripherally disposed radial spaces defined between the indents 134.

As in the prior described embodiment 10, the present embodiment 110 includes a rupturable device 136 that is adapted to provide a passageway or an access between the fluid pressure chamber 120 and the expansion space 132 when the pressure of the fluid in the chamber 120 exceeds the predetermined strength of the selected rupture area 154 of the rupture device 136. Inasmuch as the details of the device 136 are exactly the same as the device 36 in the prior described embodiment 10 shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, a duplicate explanation at this point is believed superfluous except, however, that corresponding elements of construction are again referred to by similar suffix numerals. prefixed by the numeral 1.

The operation of the instant embodiment 110 is substantially the same as embodiment 10 supra. When the fluid contained in the chamber 120 attains or reaches a predetermined pressure that is equal to the rupture point of the surface 154 of the rupture member 152, the same will break as shown in Fig. 8. A communication or exhaust passageway is thus opened. between the chamber 120 and the expansion space 132' by way of the pressure chamber 156 of the device 136.

The fluid under pressure is permitted to exhaust and immediately expand into the confines of the expansion chamber 132 to relieve its pressure. and force from theinterior walls of the body member 116. The volume of.-

o fluid exhausting into the space 132 is metered and limited by the predetermined area of the orifice 146. Hence, the orifice 146 serves to prevent the too rapid a build-up of pressure or force in the expansion chamber 132 as the high pressure fluid exhausts thereinto. As noted previously, the expansion chamber 132 is vented to the surrounding atmosphere, thereby permitting the fluid entering thereinto to expend its force as it expands in the space and then moves harmlessly upward and outward therefrom into the atmosphere by way of the vents between the notches 134. It will be noted that the vents direct the movement of the fluid upward as the same passes harmlessly out of the space 132. The fluid is so vented that as it passes through the peripheral vents, it is diffused and whatever force it may have remaining is materially reduced as it is distributed equally along all sides of the body member 116.

The apex of the convex closure wall 130 receives the full force of the exhausting fluid as the same discharges from the chamber 120, through the device 136, and into the space 132. The convex surface splits the full force of the expanding exhausting fluid in all directions to immediately difluse its force. The diffused force is then applied equally on all surfaces of the interior of the expansion space or body member 118 until dissipated. The fluid passing from the space 132 to the atmosphere by way of the peripherally disposed vents has very little, if any force or pressure remaining. Hence, it spews from the vents because it is forced out of the space 132 by the additional amounts of pressure fluid exhausting thereinto from the chamber 120.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illus trated and in their operations may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a fluid pressure container having a chamber in which a fluid is contained, a wall of said container having an opening defined therein, the defining wall of said opening being bent radially outward and upward to define a seat, a rupture device in said seat being of a diameter greater than said opening and having an inverted substantially dome-shaped plate member, the inner surface of said member being in communication with the fluid in said chamber and rupturable when the fluid reaches a predetermined pressure, and said defining wall being turned radially inward to conform fluid-tightly about said rupture device said device including a plate member having an orifice defined therein, said inner surface having a selected area of predetermined strength, and a pressure chamber defined between said plate members, said orifice defining a communication between said container chamber and pressure chamber, said selected area of said surface being rupturable outwardly when the fluid in said pressure chamber reaches a predetermined amount, said orifice limiting the volume of fluid exhausting from said container chamber to said pressure chamber.

2. In a fluid pressure container as in claim 1, the periphery of said orifice plate being turned upward and radially inward and the periphery of said substantially dome-shaped plate member being turned radially downward and inward to conform to the peripheral shape of said orifice plate member and to engage fluid-tightly thereabout.

3. A container comprising a first body member having a chamber in which a pressure fluid may be contained, a closure Wall in said first body member, a second body member coextensive with said first body member and forming an enclosed expansion space therewith, said first body member having a rim at its base, said second body member having a marginal portion secured to said rim to define vents therebetween for the exhaust of fluid from said space to the atmosphere, and a rupture device in said closure wall to break and provide communication for said fluid from said chamber to said space when said fluid reaches a predetermined pressure.

4. A container as in claim 3, said rupture device including a plate having an orifice defined therein to control the amount of fluid communication between said chamber and space and a rupture plate having a surface of predetermined strength to rupture when subjected to a predetermined pressure of said fluid.

5. A container as in claim 3, said device including a plate member having an orifice defined therein, a substantially dome-shaped plate member having a selected area of predetermined strength, and a pressure chamber defined between said plate members into which the fluid is admitted by way of said orifice, said selected area being rupturable when the fluid in the pressure chamber reaches a predetermined pressure.

6. A container comprising a body including upper and lower body members, the lower of said body members being secured at its upper portion to the lower portion of the upper one of said body members to define an expansion space when the same rests upon a surface, said lower body member having a plurality of exhaust vents defined therein to provide a communication between said space and the atmosphere, an irnperforate wall between said upper and lower body members, a fluid chamber in said upper body member in which an expansible pressure fluid is contained, a rupture device in said Wall including a rupture plate having a weakened area thereof to rupture and break outwardly when subjected to a predetermined pressure of said expanding fluid and an orifice plate spaced from said rupture plate to define a pressure chamber therebetween, an orifice in said orifice plate of a size smaller than said pressure chamber to provide communication between said fluid and pressure chambers, said orifice serving to meter the amount of expanding fluid escaping outwardly from said break in said rupture plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 586,684 Grifliths July 20, 1897 1,022,301 Campbell Apr. 2, 1912 1,336,737 Finnegan Apr. 13, 1920 2,222,703 Bixler NOV. 26, 1940 2,410,310 Smith Oct. 29, 1946 2,440,462 Cooper Apr. 27, 1948 

